According to Cambridge Dictionary:

the study of the origin and history of words, or a study of this type relating to one particular word:

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Check out Video​

https://www.pbs.org/video/s01-e01-etymology-t5xynk/

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Transcript for Video: 

(upbeat music) - 

[Narrator] The word of the week is etymology, the study of words.

An etymologist is someone who digs into the history of words from their earliest forms and other languages to their meaning and use today.

Don't confuse etymology with entomology.

That's the study of bugs.

Maybe you should look up the etymology of entomology.

(upbeat music)

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Check out Video 2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWZkqof_AG0

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Transcript for Video 2:

what is etymology in English grammar? if you've ever wondered where the words you use every day come from you're about to uncover a fascinating world let's explore the concept of etymology which is essentially the study of the origin and evolution of words etymology is a branch of linguistics that traces the history of words including their sounds and meanings over time this field is closely tied to historical Linguistics philology and semiotics and it also draws on comparative semantics morphology pragmatics and phonetics imagine you're reading an old book or talking to someone from a different era the words they use might sound familiar but their meanings could be quite different etymologists use texts especially those about the language itself to understand how words were used in the past four languages with a longw written history they analyze texts from earlier periods to see how words developed in meaning and form for example the word vaccine comes from the Latin word Vaca meaning C this is because the English physician Edward Jenner use the cowpox virus to prevent smallpox leading to the development of vaccines emolog ists also use comparative linguistics to reconstruct the history of words by comparing related languages they can prer information about their shared parent language for instance many European languages have roots that Trace back to the Indo-European language family this method helps in understanding how words like candid in English originated from the Latin word candidus meaning white the term etymology itself comes from ancient Greek with edoma derived from itum meaning true sense or sense of a truth and the suffix logia denoting the St or logic of in everyday lifeology can make language more interesting for instance the word shampoo entered English during the colonial era from a Hindi word meaning to press need or soothe the word plumber comes from the Latin word for lead plumbum because plumbers originally worked with lead understanding etymology not only enriches your vocabulary but also helps you see the connections between languages it's a way to appreciate the dynamic nature of language and how words have evolved over centuries to become what we use today so the next time you use a word remember that it has a story behind it a Journey Through Time and across different cultures etymology is the key to unlocking these stories and deepening your connection with the words you use every day

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Etymology is the study of the history of words, including their origin and how their meanings have changed over time. It's essentially the study of a word's family tree, tracing its development from its earliest appearance to its current usage.

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Here's a more detailed breakdown:

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Origin

Etymology investigates where a word came from, its root language, and the cultural context in which it was first used. 

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Evolution of Meaning

It explores how a word's meaning has shifted and broadened or narrowed over time, as well as any changes in its form (like spelling or pronunciation). 

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Language Families

Etymologists often study language families (groups of languages that share a common ancestor) to understand how words related to each other have evolved. 

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Scientific Approach

In the 21st century, etymology has become a more rigorous scientific field, drawing on various disciplines within linguistics like historical linguistics, comparative semantics, and phonetics. 

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